The Governor of Taraba State Danbaba Suntai gave his interview
from New York on a Sunday evening -- amidst an event arranged by a
former Nigerian Ambassador to the United Nations, Ambassador Kennedy F.
Apoe, to honour Suntai's 52nd birthday.
Your Excellency, how are you, Sir?
Suntai: I am fine [smiles]. I am very fine.
Good. Sir, can you recollect the incident that brought you to the United States?
Suntai: Yes,
a crash. They said I was involved in a plane crash, but I do not want
to talk about it now because the memory takes me back. The doctors
advised that I should not be made to remember the incident. But I am
fine now.
Okay, Sir. So how do you feel today, having your family members and some aides around you for your birthday celebration?
Suntai: I am happy that I am alive to witness today. I thank all of them for their supports...
The
Governor asked a Christian group, Hillsong, to perform a worship song
'Mighty to Save' for him. After listening to the song and singing along
with his daughters, Mariam, Edigwa and Zainab, Suntai confessed he liked
the song, as it reminds him he has to forgive his offenders just like
God forgived him his own wrongdoings.
Having said this, the
Governor also disclosed that he has no grudge against his insulters,
including those who "had been heating up Taraba state just because of
their selfish interests".
The Governor further admitted that he
misses "many things" since he has been away from his homeland,
emphasizing the annual Christmas celebration he would hold together with
his community people in his hometown.
Dressed in a dark blue
suit, sporting a red-coloured T-shirt under it, expressed the desire to
be present at the upcoming celebration this year.
Mrs Mabel Apoe,
wife of the host and organizer of the indoor celebration, served the
Governor some food -- rice, beans, salad, green tea and water-melon, --
which he ate.
During the birthday celebration, which lasted for
about three hours, Governor's wife transferred several phone-calls to
him, including one from the former Deputy Speaker of the Taraba State
House of Assembly, Honorable Abel Diah.
Hajia Hauwa Suntai, the
Governor's wife, admitted that her spouse's life is "truly a living
testimony", adding that it was only the intervention of God that brought
the Governor back to life: "I am quite happy and excited, and I thank
God for everything.
"As you can see, we are all over him and
everybody here present is happy with him. I do not really care about all
the negative reports that some journalists have been writing about my
husband, and you can see it for yourself now that he is really doing
well. You can even see that he has improved more than the last time you
came to visit him at home," she further continued.
Asked
about how she received the terrifying news of the notorious plane crash
in which her husband was injured, Mrs Suntai remembered thus: "It was
so shocking, and it created missed feelings and emotions for him because
I never thought he could survive it. It was very tough, but we thank
God that he survived it at the end of the day."
Meanwhile, the
organizer of the social event, Ambassador Kennedy Apoe, said he was
"glad" that the Governor was alive to witness his birthday celebration
and went on to described his health condition as "excellent". He added
that he and the Governor had spent the last couple of days together
discussing several issues, ranging from the Governor's health to the
political situation in Nigeria.
Ambassador Apoe stated: "With
where the governor is coming from, I will say his health condition is
excellent. Anytime we go to see him, he always talks with us normally as
against media propaganda by his political opponents. He always
remembers previous discussions, so how do you say such a man has lost
his memory?"
One of the Governor's daughters, Mariam, disclosed
she was "not happy" with her Father's condition, but added that she
"thanked God for bringing him back to life."
One of Suntai's
physicians confirmed the fact that he had been discharged from the
hospital about two weeks ago, but was asked to visit the rehabilitation
centre for therapies. This would make his doctors determine when he is
fit to undergo a long-distance flight back to Nigeria.
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